Lesson 16 The Industrial Revolution Chapter 5 - History Lesson 16 The Industrial Revolution

The student will recognize the rights that workers fought for in the late 1800s (i.e., wages, hours, insurance, and working conditions).

The Industrial Revolution was a time during which advances in technology helped bring about a surge in business and manufacturing activity in certain parts of the world.

Industrial Revolution The Industrial Revolution began in England in the 1700s. At that time, new machines made it possible to manufacture large amounts of products in big factories. As the Industrial Revolution spread, it changed people’s lives dramatically. Machines replaced some people on farms, so fewer farm workers were needed. People moved from rural areas to cities to find jobs in factories, and cities grew.

1900s Modern industry boomed in the United States between the end of the Civil War and the beginning of the 1900s. Life in America changed forever. No longer was the US economy based mostly on farming. Manufacturing and industry became important generators of economic wealth for the nation and its people.

Inventors Two inventors helped to move our country into the modern age. They were Thomas Alva Edison and Alexander Graham Bell.

Thomas Alva Edison produced over 1000 inventions motion pictures phonograph electric current/light bulb

Alexander Graham Bell first telephone teacher of deaf students

1900s Factories began producing steel, which was used to build bridges, railroads, and buildings. Cloth and other useful materials were manufactured in large quantities. Speculators dug for oil.

Gilded Age America’s surge in business activity created a huge demand for workers. Immigrants, farmers, women, and children all became part of America’s new labor force. As technology advanced, the US became a world leader for the first time. This era of huge business growth was called the Gilded Age.

Big Business The growing economy, along with advances in technology, enabled some business leaders to amass huge fortunes in 1800s. Few laws or controls were in place to regulate business activities. A number of businessmen made their money in ways that were unfair to other people Such businessmen were called robber barons.

Robber Barons

Cornelius Vanderbilt One “robber baron” was Cornelius Vanderbilt. He sometimes used unfair methods as he built his shipping and railroad fortune in the 1800s.

Jay Gould Jay Gould also used questionable methods in building his fortune. Gould entered the railroad business in the late 1850s. He took over railroad lines across the country and combined them into larger companies.

Jay Gould Many of Gould’s business methods were illegal. For example, he made a fortune by using his wealth to control the price of gold. Many people were ruined financially by his actions.

Monopoly Other business leaders grew so wealthy and powerful that they were able to control their industries in ways that made it hard for other businesses to compete. Such complete control over an industry is called a monopoly.

Andrew Carnegie Andrew Carnegie made millions as a steel manufacturer in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Carnegie bought up steel mills and companies that produced supplies and materials needed to make steel. As a result, he could sell steel at lower prices than other companies. In 1892, his company, Carnegie Steel, produced 25% of the steel in the US.

Andrew Carnegie

J. P. Morgan Around the same time, financier J. P. Morgan was taking control of the railroad business. A financier is a person who is skilled in handling large amounts of money. Morgan used his fortune to control several railroad companies.

J. P. Morgan

J. P. Morgan Morgan bought Carnegie’s steel company in 1901. Morgan paid Carnegie $250,000,000 for his steel company, making Carnegie one of the wealthiest men in the US. Morgan later combined Carnegie Steel with other companies to form the US Steel Corporation. In 1901, US Steel made 60% of the nation’s steel and almost 30% of the world’s steel.

John D. Rockefeller Other people made money in the oil business. John D. Rockefeller set up the Standard Oil Company in 1870.

John D. Rockefeller Standard Oil eventually had an oil monopoly, controlling about 90% of the nation’s oil business. Rockefeller also controlled the production and shipping of oil. This gave him a lot of power to control the price of oil.

The Lives of Workers Vanderbilt, Carnegie, Rockefeller, Gould, and other wealthy business leaders lived lives of ease and luxury. However, life was often unbearable for the workers who toiled (worked) in their factories, mills, and mines.

The Lives of Workers Working conditions were especially terrible for women and children. The hours were long. The number of injuries was high. Many workers lived in poor, crowded, filthy tenements (apartments). They had no medical care. Working children had little opportunity for education.

The Rise of Labor Unions Knowing their labor was valuable, and wanting better lives, workers organized into labor unions. Labor unions are groups of workers who organize to improve their wages and working conditions. One of the tools labor unions use is to strike. A strike is when workers stop working to force their employers to treat them better.

The Rise of Labor Unions The first labor union in the US to last more than a few years was the Knights of Labor. Garment workers in Philadelphia formed the union in 1869. In 1879, Terence Powderly became the leader of the Knights of Labor. Powderly pushed for eight-hour workdays with equal pay for equal work, and was opposed to child labor.

The Rise of Labor Unions In 1885, the union organized a strike against railroads owned by Jay Gould. The strike was successful. However, the Haymarket Riot of 1886 lead to the Knights of Labor’s dissolution.

AFL Another labor organization, the American Federation of Labor (AFL), was formed in 1886. Samuel Gompers was the leader of the AFL.

AFL Like Powderly, Gompers worked for shorter workdays, better wages, and better working conditions. By 1900, the AFL claimed to have 1,000,000 members.

Resistance to Unions Many business leaders opposed unions because they could force an increase in pay through a strike. The government often supported business leaders by passing laws to make it harder for unions to operate and to go on strike. Many companies used violence to end strikes.

Haymarket Riot Two such violent clashes involving unions were the Haymarket Riot in 1886 and the Pullman Strike in 1894. The Haymarket Riot started during a protest by workers in Haymarket Square in Chicago. Someone threw a bomb. A riot started, and seven police officers were killed.

Pullman Strike The Pullman Strike started after the Pullman Palace Car Company cut wages for its workers. At the company’s town in Pullman, Chicago, which provided workers with housing and supplies, there were no reduction in rents or other charges to match the wage cut.

The American Railway Union headed up a general strike against the railroad. The US government sent troops to force the strikers to go back to work. The leader of the strike, Eugene Debs, was sentenced to prison.

The fight for fair pay and safe working conditions took many years The fight for fair pay and safe working conditions took many years. Eventually, labor unions became stronger and the lives of many workers improved.

How did the workers respond to the treatment they received from the robber barons? A. Many workers received help from the government. B. Many workers moved to rural areas. C. Many workers were involved in violent riots, protests, and strikes. D. Many workers banded together and created their own monopolies.

How did the workers respond to the treatment they received from the robber barons? C. Many workers were involved in violent riots, protests, and strikes.

Samuel Gompers, the leader of the AFL union A. helped business owners to be successful. B. believed in shorter workdays and better pay for the workers. C. was the owner of US Steel. D. was against the idea of workers organizing for better conditions.

Samuel Gompers, the leader of the AFL union B. believed in shorter workdays and better pay for the workers.

How did J. P. Morgan become a wealthy man? A. He was a financier who owned railroads. B. He started the Standard Oil Company. C. He controlled the price of gold. D. Morgan collected union dues from workers.

How did J. P. Morgan become a wealthy man? A. He was a financier who owned railroads.